BERLIN, June 7, 2007 (AFP) - Germany will give four billion euros (5.4 billion dollars) over the next eight years to the global fight against AIDS, its development minister said in an interview to be published Thursday.
Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul told the Financial Times Deutschland that the new funds were intended to send a message to other member states during the Group of Eight summit in the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm.
"My appeal goes out to the other G8 states to also make other financial pledges," she said.
"When we act together the chances of saving human lives are much greater."
The new pledge amounts to 500 million euros per year, compared to 300 million euros last year and 400 million euros in 2006.
"Much of the additional funds will cover the protection and treatment of women and girls," she said.
Private aid groups complained at the meeting that some member states, particularly Canada and India, were resistant to including any new aid figures in the final summit communique that will be presented Friday.
Nearly two-thirds of all HIV-positive people live in sub-Saharan Africa. The infection risk for girls and women between the ages of 15 and 24 is three times higher than for males.
The G8 has until 2015 to keep its pledge to provide universal access to care and treatment for all HIV patients. Wieczorek-Zeul said that this pledge should also be renewed in the summit communique.
And she also promised more German contributions to a global fund for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
US President George W. Bush asked lawmakers last week to set aside 30 billion dollars over five years to fight AIDS worldwide, doubling the funding for his President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting the meeting as the chairman of the G8, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
070607
AF070612
Copyright ©AFP 2007. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, John M. Lloyd Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.